The morning prayer (offered between Fajr and Dhuhr) is called Salat al-Duhaa and it begins moments after the sun rises till a few moments before noon. It is a sunnah of Allah’s Messenger SAW, and it is counted among the most virtuous salah (prayers) through which a person seeks to get closer to his Lord. It is the salah of those who are categorized as Awwabeen (ever oft-returning in all manners and in repentance towards Allah) and Mukhbiteen (those who humble themselves in repentance and obedience).

A lot of people, except those whom Allah SWT, bestows with His mercy, have abandoned it. Therefore, here is a reminder to all of us Muslims, that we may re-establish this forgotten Sunnah in our lives. “No one maintains the Duhaa salah except an Awwab (i.e. a person who is oft-returning to Allah in repentance).” (Ibn-Majah)

Salat al-Duhaa is a Sunnah Mu’akkad which means that it is an emphasized or recommended sunnah. Abu Hurairah said, “The Prophet SAW advised me to observe three things, not to abandon them till I die; to fast three days a month, to perform two raka’ahs of Duhaa salah and to do Witr salah before sleeping.” (Bukhari and Muslim)

“If anyone sits in his place of prayer when he finishes the dawn prayer till he prays the two Raka’ahs of the Duhaa, saying nothing but what is good, his sins will be forgiven even if they are more than the foam of the sea”. Recorded by Al-Imam Ahmad and Abu Dawud

Performing Duhaa prayer is included in the acts of piety and righteousness. Allah Says: “… And whosoever fears Allah and keeps his duty to Him, He will make a way for him to get out (from every difficulty). And He will provide him from (sources) he never could imagine.” [Qur’an 65:2-3].

Also, performing the Duhaa prayer is considered as being grateful and thankful to Allah. Allah Says: “If you give thanks (by accepting Faith and worshiping none but Allah), I will give you more (of My Blessings)” [Qur’an 14:7].

And the rewards are stated in the following hadith (At-Tabaraanee. Hadeeth Hasan (Saheeh at-Targheeb wat-Tarheeb, vol. 1, p.279):

Two raka’ahs: Not of the heedless. Prophet SAW said, “Whoever prays two raka’ahs of Duhaa, will not be recorded (to be) among the heedless.”

Four raka’ahs: Among the worshipers. Prophet SAW said, “And whoever prays four raka’ahs (of duhaa), will be recorded among the worshipers.”

Six raka’ahs: Sufficient (prayer). Prophet SAW said, “And whoever prays six, it will be a sufficient (prayer) for the whole day.”

Eight raka’ahs: From the devoutly obedient. Prophet SAW said, “And whoever prays eight will be written among the Qaaniteen (devoutly obedient).”

Twelve raka’ahs: House in Jannah. Prophet SAW said, “And whoever prays twelve raka’ahs, Allah will build a house for him in Jannah.”

So, which group are we in now and which group do we want to be in? Perhaps, in this holy month of Ramadhan, where the Grace of Allah SWT is in abundance, we could increase our Duhaa Salah and be among those that will have houses in Jannah, InsyaAllah.

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Judging someone, that is the favorite past-time of most people, myself included. Worst still, we are too quick to do that without taking due time and considerations, often enough making fools of ourselves. Perhaps the following incident could offer us some useful thoughts.

Imam Ahmad used to mention the virtues of his great sheikh, Imam Shafi’e to his wife. He would mention to her the extensive and superb knowledge of Imam Shafi’e as well as his ‘Taqwa’ (piety).

One day, Imam Ahmad invited Imam Shafi’e to come to his home for a visit. When the time for dinner arrived,
Imam Shafi’e ate until he was full and went to the guest room for some sleep.

On seeing this, the startled wife of Imam Ahmad said to him: “O Ahmad, my beloved husband! Is this the same Shafi’e that you used to tell me so much about?”

Imam Ahmad said: “Indeed he is!”

And she said: “I noticed 3 things about him worthy of criticism! Firstly, when we served him the food, he ate plenty of it! Secondly, when he went into the guest room, he went to sleep without standing up to perform the Tahajjud (night prayer)! Lastly, when he prayed Solat ul Fajr with us, he did not perform the wudhu (ablution)!”

So Imam Ahmad went to Imam Shafi’e to ask him about these matters his wife noticed. Imam Shafi’e gently explained to him, like a father would to his son :

“O Ahmad! I ate plenty because I know for certain that your food is ‘Halal’ and indeed you are a generous man! And the food that comes from a generous man is a cure, while the food that comes from a stingy man is a disease! However, I didn’t eat plenty of food in order to achieve my fill; rather I ate plenty of your food in order to derive the cure from it!

As for the reason I didn’t stand up at night to perform the Tahajjud, when I laid my head down to get some sleep, I looked and all I could see was the Book of Allah (Qur’an) and the Sunnah of His Prophet SAW right in front of my face! So I deducted 72 fiqh-related benefits from them for the Muslims to benefit from. Hence, Thus there was no opportunity for me to stand and perform the Tahajjud!

As for the reason why I prayed Solat ul Fajr without performing ablution, by Allah! my eyes never tasted the sweetness of sleep in order for me to renew my wudhu. I was awake the whole night, so I prayed Solat ul Fajr with the same wudhu I had for Solat ul ‘Isha.”

That is how the great Imam Shafi’e normally make full use his time, remembering Allah SWT and the Prophet SAW. And he was famously known to maintain his wudhu from ‘Isya to Fajr. Perhaps, the singularly most important I learned from this wonderful story is how quick are we to offer judgment of someone. Let’s not be hasty in that, eh?